Trauma Responses & Community Violence: Why the Brain Reacts the Way It Does
Davina Scott, a Clinical Intern at Council for Relationships and a student at the University of Pennsylvania, explores the profound effects of community violence on mental health. In this blog, she examines how trauma responses influence the behavior, decision-making, and coping skills of those who have experienced violence. By understanding these responses, communities can develop strategies for healing and resilience.
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Understanding Community Violence & Trauma Responses
When discussing community violence, I want to acknowledge the deliberate creation of poverty within the American social structure. Redlining and other discriminatory practices have helped create conditions that lead to violence in communities.
When we hear the word “violence,” it is easy to think of conflict between individuals or inside the home. However, for millions of people living in the United States, violence is a significant issue that affects their daily lives. Trauma responses refer to how the brain and body react to prolonged exposure to violence. These responses influence emotions, decision-making, and overall well-being.
Community violence is violence between groups or people who are unrelated and takes place in a community. This includes school shootings or shootings in public spaces, sexual assault, fighting, stabbings, robberies, etc. According to the CDC, young people (ages 10-34) and Black and Latino communities are disproportionally affected by community violence.
How Trauma Affects the Brain
We can use academic and scientific terms like “Amygdala” or “Neurotransmitters” to describe how the brain reacts to traumatic events such as exposure to community violence. Understanding and empathizing with the human experience need not be complicated. It can be as simple as recognizing how fear influences behavior.
Yes, fear. That feeling you get just as you reach the top of a rollercoaster your friends convinced you to ride. The thing that causes your heart to beat faster or your breathing to become heavier. Fear is that thing that millions of Americans experience every time they step outside their homes.
Fear triggers trauma responses that can disrupt daily life. For example, individuals living in communities with high rates of violence often experience heightened stress, loss of control, and difficulty regulating emotions. The brain processes fear in ways that can lead to chronic anxiety and hypervigilance. The absence of social safety nets often worsens this.
Types of Trauma Responses: Fight, Flight, and Freeze
The brain plays a critical role in processing emotions and decision-making. The amygdala, responsible for detecting threats, becomes overactive when people are continuously exposed to violence. Meanwhile, the prefrontal cortex, which helps regulate decision-making and impulse control, becomes less active. This imbalance can lead to considerable stress and a feeling of losing control over one’s mind and body.
How does the brain respond?
- Fight: Marked by anger, aggression, or physical altercations.
- Flight: Characterized by avoidance, withdrawal, or isolation.
- Freeze: A state of numbness, dissociation, or feeling stuck.
These responses are not just emotional reactions but are deeply rooted in the brain’s survival mechanisms.
Coping Mechanisms for Trauma in Violent Communities
As a Caseworker at the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP), I worked with incarcerated individuals. My clients often faced gun charges, assault charges, or both. In many cases, their actions were influenced by trauma responses developed from witnessing or experiencing violence.
Philadelphia is one of the most economically deprived cities in America. Research shows that living in an under-resourced community increases a person’s risk of experiencing violence, witnessing violence, and perpetuating violence. Despite these statistics, the Courts faced challenges in comprehending the reasons behind my clients’ inclination to carry firearms. They also found understanding why my clients engaged in physical altercations difficult.
Trauma responses are essentially defense mechanisms. Individuals exposed to ongoing violence may develop various coping mechanisms, including:
- Carrying an unlicensed firearm due to hypervigilance.
- Engaging in physical altercations when the “fight” response is triggered.
- Isolating from the community or using substances as a form of escape.
While some coping mechanisms may seem “negative,” they serve a crucial purpose. They act as self-protective strategies, helping individuals defend themselves against external threats. At the same time, there are healthier ways to navigate trauma responses and find healing.
Moving Forward: Healing from the Impacts of Trauma Responses
Healing from the impacts caused by trauma responses requires personal resilience, community support, and access to mental health resources. While there are barriers to seeking professional help—such as affordability, accessibility, and stigma—therapy can provide a structured path toward recovery.
Additional ways to support healing include:
- Engaging in peer support groups and mentorship programs.
- Participating in community activities to foster connection.
- Practicing self-compassion and acknowledging that fear and anxiety are normal responses to trauma.
Community violence is a complex issue, but with awareness and support, individuals can build resilience and regain control over their lives. The effects of trauma responses do not define a person—they are simply part of the journey toward healing.
CFR Clinical Intern Davina Scott.
About Davina Scott
Davina Scott is a Clinical Intern at Council for Relationships and a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania. She is passionate about supporting individuals who have experienced traumatic events and community violence. Davina’s work focuses on helping young people, family members, and individuals struggling with PTSD symptoms, depression, and anxiety. She is committed to promoting healing, resilience, and access to mental health care for those in under-resourced communities.
About CFR’s Clinical Internship Program
Council for Relationships provides rigorous clinical training to future mental health professionals. Interns receive supervised experience in evidence-based therapies, including trauma-informed care, anxiety treatment, and support for individuals facing high levels of stress. CFR’s internship program equips students with the skills to address mental health problems and support individuals in social situations impacted by trauma. Learn more about our Clinical Internship Program here.
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